KANSAS CITY – A game that featured nine innings of scoreless baseball ended in a 5-4 Royals loss to the D-backs in 10 innings on Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. It was a tight pitching duel that turned ugly before having the potential to turn into a thrilling comeback, only for it to go down as the Royals’ 81st loss of the season.
“The first nine innings were one game,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “And the 10th was another game.”
There are plenty of things the Royals would like back: Craig Kimbrel’s 10th inning would be one, as the reliever allowed five runs (four earned). The missed offensive opportunities loomed large, including the attempt at a safety squeeze in the fifth that Kyle Isbel popped out, as well as Nick Loftin’s strikeout to end the game in the 10th with the tying run on third.
But if the Royals couldn’t win this one, it’s the pitching – at least what we saw in regulation – that matters the most.
Noah Cameron tossed six scoreless frames on three hits, striking out seven with two walks. That lowered his ERA to 1.66 (11 earned runs in 59 2/3 innings) in his last nine appearances (eight starts) since July 24, which is tied for the third-best mark in the Majors in that span.
There are lots of reasons for Cameron’s turnaround this year. From calling his own pitches to increasing his slider usage to being in the zone more, Cameron has brought his season ERA down from 5.27 on July 19 to 3.93 after Monday. Heck, there even might be something to what glove he’s using in the second half, as he ditched the tan one he used early for the blue one he used for most of last year. (He doesn’t call himself superstitious, but … c’mon.)
All of it showed up Monday. Cameron threw a lot of strikes (67%), particularly early with a 68% first-pitch strike percentage, per Statcast. He befuddled the D-backs with his pitch mix and generated weak contact.
“I thought we were just attacking guys that are notorious for taking early,” Cameron said. “It was just kind of like, ‘Get in the zone, try to stay ahead, try to throw [fewer] pitches.’”
Cameron’s pitch count was elevated by the 27 balls the D-backs fouled off, tied for most in a game by a Royals pitcher this year. But that was fine with Cameron because it meant more strikes.
“I think a lot were 0-0, 0-1, so be my guest,” Cameron said. “Getting to two strikes is great. I think the ones we as pitchers kind of notice are the 3-2, 2-2 [fouls] in deep counts. I knew the pitch count was getting up there, but I thought we were in the zone really well.”
The Royals had Nate Pearson get warm in the sixth as Cameron faced the top and middle part of the order. Cameron walked leadoff hitter Geraldo Perdomo, but then got a flyout and fielder’s choice. Quatraro stuck with Cameron against Nolan Arenado for a third time, despite Arenado recording a single and working a walk earlier in the game.
Called strikes on a cutter and curveball put Arenado in an 0-2 count before he fouled off a changeup. Cameron went to his slider, and it turned Arenado’s bat into a sword as he took an ugly hack for strike three to end the frame and Cameron’s outing.
“When he’s looking for a fastball, it’s a good feeling when they swing and miss and are a little bit surprised,” Cameron said.
That allowed the Royals to save Pearson for the seventh. He was fresh after three days off, and looked like it, needing 20 pitches across two perfect innings. Steven Cruz had the ninth, and he battled his command but was helped by an unassisted double play that Loftin pulled off at third, catching Arenado’s 101.4 mph liner and tagging Ketel Marte out on the base.
“I was so far in that I didn’t even have momentum to even jump at the bag,” Loftin said. “I just kind of fell. … It wasn’t the most majestic, but it was enough.”
Cruz followed with a three-pitch strikeout to pinch-hitter Corbin Carroll to keep the scoreless tie intact.
It fell apart with Kimbrel’s outing, and the Royals’ offense came up short of the comeback during a four-run 10th. But what the Royals got from Cameron, Pearson and Cruz only gives them more evidence as this season winds down that those three are going to be important pitchers for them heading into 2027.
“When you pitch like that,” outfielder John Rave said, “you deserve a win.”